The Good Weekend
What do you do on weekends? How do you spend your leisure time?
According to Robert Stebbins, a sociologist from the University of Calgary, leisure falls into two categories: casual and serious. (Serious leisure?) Here is the distinction:
Casual pursuits are short lived, immediately gratifying, mostly passive and includes activities such as watching television, online shopping, and playing video games. They require little mental or physical effort. They cause the brain to release dopamine and give instant gratification. Result: a feel-good that quickly wears off.
Serious leisure provides more real fulfillment. It is the sense of well-being that is obtained through meaningful and challenging activities that result in personal growth. Such pursuits include sport activities, expanding your hobby, or singing in a choir. Result: a more lasting sense of worthy endeavor and rejuvenation.
Paradoxically, often the better we are at work, the worse we are at spending weekends well. Hard work during the week leaves little energy for engaged activities - rather switch off doing something requiring little effort.
And we forget to play. Bertrand Russell said in his essay In Praise of Idleness:
“There was formerly a capacity for light-heartedness and play which has been to some extent inhibited by the cult of efficiency. The pleasures of urban populations have become mainly passive; seeing cinemas, watching football matches, listening to the radio, and so on. This results from the fact that their active energies are fully taken up with work; if they had more leisure, they would again enjoy pleasures in which they took an active part.”
The good weekend turns out to be one of oxytocin inducing social activities, deep engagement in hobbies, and play – that activity we last engaged in as children, which is improvised and void of time awareness.
What am I doing this weekend?
I am writing this article which is a hobby, meeting old friends at the athletics track, having a family barbeque on Sunday (colloquially known as a "braai"), and instead of only walking the dogs, this weekend I will also play with them.
I will skip the Saturday night movie on television.
But then again, I might well succumb and watch it.
A little passive pleasure is seriously good, isn’t it?
Articles from Gert Scholtz
View blogLegend has it that Ernest Hemingway once won a short story competition with a sad tale of only six w ...
I never realized how experienced and knowledgeable Jerry Fletcher is until this interview. · He join ...
Pascal Derrien · is one of the few Irish Bees here on BeBee. He joined around the same time as I did ...
Related professionals
You may be interested in these jobs
-
Electrical & Instrument Superintendent
Found in: Talent ZA C2 - 2 days ago
Hire Resolve Phalaborwa, South Africa Full timeHire Resolve is currently seeking an experienced Electrical & Instrument Superintendent to join a reputable mining company in Limpopo. As an Electrical & Instrument Superintendent, you will be responsible for managing the electrical and instrument maintenance activities within th ...
-
Designer (Instruments)
Found in: Talent ZA C2 - 12 hours ago
Wood Free State, South Africa Full timeTechnical Design Ability - Under supervision completes technical design work using company and client design methods, standards and data in line with Project requirements. Provision of support to designers. · Technical Expertise - Possesses proficient levels of technical expertis ...
-
Agile Project Manager
Found in: Talent ZA C2 - 1 day ago
Isilumko Staffing Johannesburg, South Africa ContractAre you a skilled Agile Project Manager looking for a new challenge? Are you passionate about guiding teams to success and delivering projects on time and within budget? If so, we want to hear from you · About Us: · Our client, a top Bank in the country is looking for a dynamic a ...
Comments
Lada 🏡 Prkic
6 years ago #32
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #31
Savvy Raj Well what can I say but keep dancing the weekend away! Thank you for reading and sharing Savvy.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #30
Tausif Mundrawala A good book and a good movie - sound like a great weekend to me. Thanks for your attention to the post Tausif.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #29
Brian McKenzie Your activities actually sound active to me - and riled (revved?) up - so have a good one Brian.
Lisa Vanderburg
6 years ago #28
lol....
Ian Weinberg
6 years ago #27
There's sure to be s second-hand DBS market in Africa ....
Lisa Vanderburg
6 years ago #26
Ya know Ken Boddie! I've been spending my weekend trying to find a home for our cadavers. Mine's done, but my husband's got 'hardware' (DBS for them) in his brain & chest. When I offered him back to the manufacturers, I think they thought I was joking! Best-laid plans and all...
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #25
#22 Harley King What is play? Your description of humor, celebration and creativity, I think is spot on. I hope the cockroach turned into a prince for your daughter :) Thanks Harley.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #24
#22 Harley King What is play? Your description of humor, celebration and creativity, I think is spot on. I hope the cockroach turned into a prince for your daughter :) Thanks for the friendly words Harley.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #23
#22 Harley King What is play? Your description of humor, celebration and creativity, I think is spot on. And I hope the cockroach is ok :) Thanks for the friendly words Harley.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #22
#22 Harley King What is play really? Your description of humor, celebration and creativity, I think is spot on. Thanks for reading and the friendly words Harley.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #21
#21 Harley King I find that as an adult I understand less of what play really is. Your description of humor, celebration and creativity I think is spot on. Thanks for the friendly words Harvey.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #20
Irene \ud83d\udc1d Rodriguez Escolar Few activities refresh as the outdoors. And when it's in Spain, it must be the best. I guess I will have to come to Spain for a weekend:) Thanks for your comments Irene.
Irene 🐝 Rodriesco
6 years ago #19
Ken Boddie
6 years ago #18
As honourary secretary, your official invitation to join the Dad Jokes Club is in the mail.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #17
CityVP \ud83d\udc1d Manjit Now that brilliant name really emphasizes the fun in blogging. From now on, with your permission - I shall once in a while go plogging! Thanks for your detailed comment Manjit.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #16
Ken Boddie I hope the decluttering goes without too much clattering. Do take the serious decisions at your leisure, lest the weekend leisure become too serious. Thanks Ken and good luck!
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #15
Ken Boddie I hope the decluttering goes without too much clattering. Do take the serious decisions at your leisure, lest the weekend leisure become a too serious affair. Thanks Ken and good luck!
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #14
Proma \ud83d\udc1d Nautiyal Your weekend plan sound great to me Proma - thanks for the comment. And I agree - let's not take a seriously good weekend too seriously:)
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #13
Ian Weinberg That's a very good point Ian. It would be great to read more of your insight into well-being after retirement. Thank you for commenting and if you do as well tomorrow - enjoy the braai.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #12
Randall Burns Hope the working weekend is going great - I am sure you're cooking up a storm. Thanks for stopping by Randall.
Ken Boddie
6 years ago #11
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #10
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #9
Lisa Vanderburg I hope the vaguely remembered concept of weekend again becomes a vivid experience. Thanks for reading and sharing.
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #8
Pascal Derrien By this time the kids stuff is done, and you have your 10k run tomorrow. If my article results in any dopamine - please stop reading:)
Ian Weinberg
6 years ago #7
Proma Nautiyal
6 years ago #6
CityVP Manjit
6 years ago #5
Randall Burns
6 years ago #4
Lisa Vanderburg
6 years ago #3
Lisa Vanderburg
6 years ago #2
Pascal Derrien
6 years ago #1